China: set to build world’s tallest green building

Not content with building a 30 storey skyscraper in 360 hours, the Chinese firm Broad Sustainable Building (BSB) is now looking to start a 90-day project to build the world’s tallest building.

The 220 storey Sky City project in Changsha will use the same factory-built module technique as the T30 tower, the 30 floor hotel that BSB built in 15 days, but on a much bigger scale.

Wall and floor panels will be built by a 16,000 strong workforce in a factory during a six month period.

The electrics, plumbing, flooring and air conditioning are installed within the panels before being shipped to the construction site and pieced together like a Lego set.

The technique is energy efficient, reduces the need for cement and is one third of the cost versus traditional building techniques according to BSB. Cement production contributes 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Fresh air heat recovery, quadruple glazing and 15cm of thermal insulation will add to the building’s green credentials.

“The way the building is designed could also mean that it can be deconstructed and recycled, which is a very important consideration,” said John Alker, director of policy and communications, UK Green Building Council.

“There are perhaps more efficient building shapes than very tall skyscrapers but we are cautiously positive. It’s innovative and they have thought about it’s construction and operational life span, that doesn’t automatically make it a sustainable building though,” he told RTCC.

The concept is not new with Huf Haus offering the top-end versions in Europe.

Work is expected to begin on Sky City’s foundations shortly pending final government approval.

The estimated cost of the project is $620m according to China Daily, less than the half the $1.5bn spent on the 828m tall Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which took five years. Sky City aims to top this by 10m.

It will include its own hospital, schools, offices and leisure facilities for its 17,000 residents.